Tourism

        The Trent Severn Waterway winds through the heart of Ontario. It connects Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay, which is a journey of 388 Kilometers or 241 miles. The Trent system rises 598 feet to the waterway summit on Balsam lake as it makes its way from Lake Ontario. The canal then falls 334 feet on route to Georgian Bay. Forty three locks control the rise and fall of the canal.

        The canal also includes two marine railways and 33 miles of canal channels. 41 miles is actually canal. The Trent begins at Trenton and follows the Trent river through the little towns of Frankford, Campbellford, Healey Falls and Hastings. From this point the waterway flows into the 21 mile long Rice lake, which leads into the Otonabee River then leads the waterway into Peterborough. Peterborough is famous for its 65 foot hydraulic liftlock.

        The canal rises north of Peterborough to the start of the Kawarthas. The waterway leads through Lovesick, Buckhorn, Pigeon, Sturgeon and Cameron Lakes, then to Balsam Lake which is the summit of the waterway.

        This section passes through Burleigh Falls, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Rosedale and Coboconk.

        In a short canal leading from Mitchell Lake to Canal Lake is the Kirkfield liftlocks, the second on the waterway. Canal Lake flows into the Talbot River which then flows into Lake Simcoe. It is this part of the canal that cuts across the northernmost portion of Brock Township. The waterway crosses through Simcoe and into Lake Couchiching where a short canal cuts to the Severn River and then flows into Georgian Bay.

        The canal is an important focus for marine tourist activity as thousands of boats make there way along part, or all of this historic waterway. The original pioneer trade in lumber and agricultural goods have given way to flotillas of pleasure craft that navigate the many canals, lakes and rivers along the system. The people and money that accompanies this new trade are important contributions to the local economy during the operating season of the canal. In the winter the canal acts as an important route for the many snowmobiles that cut across this natural pathway along the northern perimeter of Brock Township.